Abstract: Systems and methods for air cooling a microfluidic device using confinement channels to isolate cooling air from exposed liquids are disclosed. The systems and methods may also thermally condition the cooling airflow for improved robustness of the microfluidic device. In one embodiment, the air cooling system includes a split-level cooling manifold including an inlet duct that directs cooling air to a microfluidic device and an outlet duct that directs air heated by the microfluidic device away from the microfluidic device. The temperature of cooling air may be measured. The cooling air may be preheated to a temperature that is higher than an expected ambient temperature. The temperature of the cooling air after being heated by a microfluidic device may be measured.

Abstract: When a request having a keyword is received, a domain name having the keyword can be generated and a network resource corresponding to the domain name can be requested wherein the network resource is adapted to extract the keyword from the domain name. In turn, when a request having a first domain name is received, a second domain name having the first domain name can be generated and a network resource corresponding to the second domain name can be requested wherein the network resource is adapted to extract the first domain name from the second domain name.

Abstract: Systems and methods for air cooling a microfluidic device using confinement channels to isolate cooling air from exposed liquids are disclosed. The systems and methods may also thermally condition the cooling airflow for improved robustness of the microfluidic device. In one embodiment, the air cooling system includes a split-level cooling manifold including an inlet duct that directs cooling air to a microfluidic device and an outlet duct that directs air heated by the microfluidic device away from the microfluidic device. The temperature of cooling air may be measured. The cooling air may be preheated to a temperature that is higher than an expected ambient temperature. The temperature of the cooling air after being heated by a microfluidic device may be measured.

Abstract: When a request having a keyword is received, a domain name having the keyword can be generated and a network resource corresponding to the domain name can be requested wherein the network resource is adapted to extract the keyword from the domain name. In turn, when a request having a first domain name is received, a second domain name having the first domain name can be generated and a network resource corresponding to the second domain name can be requested wherein the network resource is adapted to extract the first domain name from the second domain name.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for the real time processing of nucleic acid during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thermal melt applications. According to an aspect of the invention, a system for the rapid serial processing of multiple nucleic acid assays is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes, but is not limited to: a microfluidic cartridge having microfluidic (flow-through) channels, a fluorescence imaging system, a temperature measurement and control system; a pressure measurement and control system for applying variable pneumatic pressures to the microfluidic cartridge; a storage device for holding multiple reagents (e.g., a well-plate); a liquid handling system comprising at least one robotic pipettor for aspirating, mixing, and dispensing reagent mixtures to the microfluidic cartridge; systems for data storage, processing, and output; and a system controller to coordinate the various devices and functions.

Abstract: When a one or more identifiers and a plurality of data request types is received, a first data request from the one or more identifiers and from a first data request type can be generated and performed. When at least one first result from the first data request can be received, a second data request from the one or more identifiers and from a second data request type can be generated and performed at any time after receiving the one or more identifiers and the plurality of data request types, and then the at least one second result from the second data request can be retrieved either one of a before, during, and after the at least one first result from the first data request is presented. The correspondence between identifiers and request types may be one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, or many-to-many relationship. A response type may employ a plurality of response methods to access multiple network resources corresponding to any generated and/or selected identifiers and/or request types.

Abstract: A drill guide assembly for drilling a tunnel having a fixed, non-zero radius of curvature, where the drill guide assembly includes a housing and a sleeve, or cutting tube, configured to reciprocate within the distal portion where the sleeve, or cutting tube, is configured to receive a bone cutting instrument.

Abstract: When a one or more identifiers and a plurality of data request types is received, a first data request from the one or more identifiers and from a first data request type can be generated and performed. When at least one first result from the first data request can be received, a second data request from the one or more identifiers and from a second data request type can be generated and performed at any time after receiving the one or more identifiers and the plurality of data request types, and then the at least one second result from the second data request can be retrieved either one of a before, during, and after the at least one first result from the first data request is presented. The correspondence between identifiers and request types may be one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, or many-to-many relationship. A response type may employ a plurality of response methods to access multiple network resources corresponding to any generated and/or selected identifiers and/or request types.

Abstract: An automated sample tube blotting system having one or more rotating grippers, a supply of absorbent material, a transporter, and an absorbent material removal mechanism. Each rotating gripper has a respective holder configured to selectively mate with a respective interface on a tube strip, and the one or more rotating grippers are rotatable between a first position in which the tube strip is upright and a second position in which the tube strip is inverted. The transporter is configured to move the rotating gripper in a lateral direction from a starting location to a location above the absorbent material, and in a vertical direction towards and away from the absorbent material.

Abstract: An automated sample tube decanting system having one or more decanting grippers, a decant waste receptacle, a transporter, and means for rotating the decanting gripper. Each decanting gripper has a respective holder configured to selectively mate with a respective interface on a tube strip. The one or more decanting grippers are rotatable between a first position in which the tube strip is upright and a second position in which the tube strip is inverted. The transporter is configured to move the one or more decanting grippers in a lateral direction from a starting location to a location above the decant waste receptacle.

Abstract: A drainage stent delivery system including a stent, a guide catheter, a push catheter, and an outer sheath. The guide catheter extends through the lumen of the stent and the push catheter is disposed over a portion of the guide catheter proximal of the distal end of the stent. The outer sheath is slidably disposed over the push catheter and surrounding at least a portion of the stent. The outer sheath may be actuated from a first position in which a distal portion of the outer sheath surrounds the stent to a second position in which the distal portion of the outer sheath is proximal of the stent. The stent delivery system may also include a retention mechanism for selectively coupling the stent to the outer sheath which may selectively decouple the stent from the outer sheath through rotational and/or translational motion of the outer sheath relative to the stent.

Abstract: A drainage stent delivery system including an elongate shaft of a medial device, a drainage catheter or stent, and a retention mechanism for selectively retaining the drainage stent on the elongate shaft. The tubular stent is positioned on and surrounding the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft includes a distal tip portion which is deflectable from a first position to a second position, the distal tip portion of the elongate shaft being biased toward the first position. Deflecting the distal tip portion of the elongate shaft from the first position to the second position moves the distal tip portion toward the central longitudinal axis of the tubular stent to allow the stent to be decoupled from the elongate shaft.

Abstract: The present invention detects indicia, identifiers, or partial URLs to mark up in real time from input sources such as that of radio, television, cable, and other sources that have a digital, analog or digital/analog signal where text can be decoded from. A device receives a broadcast and decodes text data from the broadcast signal. The data is stored and words are parsed from the stored data. The words may be matched against a table of identifiers or rules to determine whether indicia have been detected. If not and it is determined that there is more data, then the next word may be parsed from the stored data. If an identifier or the like has been detected then it may be determined whether the word is a phone number. When the word is a phone number, the number is stored in a phone cache to speed-dial, auto-dial, generate a hyperdial link, or update a phone book.

Abstract: When a network resource request having a domain name is received, it is determined whether the network resource can be accessed from the domain name. Rather than displaying an error message or processing a search request in response to determining that a network resource can not be accessed, the domain name can instead be redirected to a registration service for domain names or keyword advertiser registration.

Abstract: A prosthesis delivery and deployment device includes an elongate and flexible outer catheter. The outer catheter has a tubular wall of layered construction, including translucent layers, opaque layers, and a braid composed of helically wound metal filaments. The outer catheter has a translucent distal adapted to constrain a radially self-expanding prosthesis in a radially reduced, axially elongated state. Because the stent constraining region is translucent, an endoscope can be used to visually monitor the stent when so constrained. Radiopaque markers can be mounted to the outer catheter and to an inner catheter used to deploy the prosthesis, to afford a combined visual and fluoroscopic monitoring for enhanced accuracy in positioning the prosthesis, both before and during its deployment.

Abstract: A drill guide assembly for drilling a tunnel having a fixed, non-zero radius of curvature, where the drill guide assembly includes a housing and a sleeve, or cutting tube, configured to reciprocate within the distal portion where the sleeve, or cutting tube, is configured to receive a bone cutting instrument.

Abstract: A DNS server receives a DNS query based on a predetermined syntax, with the DNS query having a domain name having a highest level domain (HLD). The DNS server uses a root zone file having a resource record to resolve the DNS query in response to determining that the HLD is a top level domain alias (TLDA) that is not an HLD registered in the DNS server. The resource record of the root zone file includes an IP address corresponding to a network resource that is configured to determine a namespace provider that can process the domain name having the TLDA.

Abstract: A drill guide assembly for drilling a tunnel having a fixed, non-zero radius of curvature, where the drill guide assembly includes a housing and a sleeve, or cutting tube, configured to reciprocate within the distal portion where the sleeve, or cutting tube, is configured to receive a bone cutting instrument.

Abstract: A stent delivery system is disclosed that has an outer assembly and an inner assembly that accommodates a stent. The inner assembly further has an external assembly contact area projecting from its surface that frictionally contacts an inner surface of the outer assembly. The contact area is positioned at one end of the inner assembly, proximal to the stent accommodating area. Also disclosed is a method of using the stent delivery system.

Abstract: An accessible URI may be generated in response to determining that an existing valid URI is inaccessible. When a valid URI is determined to be not accessible, then a valid URI may be generated to access content by extracting keywords from the non-query component URI (e.g., directory, domain, port, or fragment, etc.) of the inaccessible URI and using such keywords as a search request or as the query portion of the generated accessible URI.